Blonde Girl 1927

Alice Pike Barney made this portrait, Blonde Girl, using pastel. Look at the way she’s built up this image. See those loose, hatched marks? They're not trying to hide themselves; you can really see the artist working. Pastel is such a direct medium, it's almost like drawing with pure color. The surface has a soft, powdery feel to it, which gives the girl a gentle presence. I’m really drawn to how Barney uses color to model the form of the face. The pinks in her cheeks and lips, balanced with those cool blues in the background. It’s a simple palette, but she gets so much out of it. There’s a kind of honesty here. It feels like Barney is less interested in idealizing the girl and more interested in capturing a fleeting moment. It reminds me a little of Degas' pastel portraits, but with a softer touch. Ultimately, art is about a conversation between artists across time, each one bringing their unique perspective. It’s never about finding one right answer.